Organic data network having a dynamic topology

• US 20060230179A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nonend Inventions, N.V.
• Original Assignee: Nonend Inventions, N.V.
• Inventors: Oldenborgh, Marc van, Gnirrep, Martijn
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for either generating or maintaining an organic data network having an dynamic topology, comprising a data processing unit at least one data connection to a data network to which several devices provided with a data processing unit are connected by means of a data connection, and software having a receiving routine for receiving data packages of at least one transmitting device in the data network, a transmission routine for transmitting data packages, received from the transmitting device or devices in the data network to at least one receiving device that is connected to the data network, independent of the transmitting device or devices. Additionally the invention relates to a method and software for data packages received from a transmitting device to at least one receiving device, independent of said transmitting device. A device according to the invention can be used in for instance mobile phones, streaming internet applications and cable television.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A device for either generating or maintaining an organic data network having a dynamic topology, said device comprising:

a data processing unit;

at least one data connection to said organic data network, and

software having;

a receiving routine for receiving data packages from at least one transmitting device in said data network;

a request routine for sending a request for data packages to at least one transmitting device;

a request handling routine for handling a request for data packages from at least one receiving device;

a transmission routine for transmitting at least one of said requested data packages, received from said transmitting device or devices in said data network, to at least one receiving device in response to said request,

wherein said software, when running on said device, allows said device to;

transmit at least one request for streaming data to at least one other device;

receive at least one data package of said streaming data transmitted by said at least one other device in reply to said request, said other device thus becoming a transmitting device;

receive at least one request from at least one further device for said streaming data;

in reply to said request, transmit at least one of its data packages of said streaming data to said at least one further device, said further device thus becoming a receiving device, and

initiate at least one further data connection to at least one other further device based upon network information from a device connected to said network

for transmitting said streaming data composed of data packages independent of said at least one transmitting device.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software, when running on said device, allows said device to initiate at least one further data connection to at least one other further device based upon network information from at least one device in said network provided with said software.

37. The device according to claim 35, wherein said at least one other further device in said network provided with said software is selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

38. The device according to claim 35, wherein said device further comprises a memory for storing a plurality of data packages and a consumer manager for making said streaming data ready for processing or playing.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein said consumer manager can be switched off selectively.

40. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software further has a routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding subtitling, advertising or local news in said streaming data.

42. The device according to claim 40, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding authenticity securities and/or other securities.

43. The device according to claim 40, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, can be switched off selectively.

44. The device according to claim 35, wherein said request handling routine is adapted for granting permission to the transmitting routine for transmitting data packages to new receiving devices.

45. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software further has:

a decision routine for deciding to set up connections to at least one transmitting device and closing down connections to at least one transmitting device based upon evaluation parameters,

wherein said software, when running on said device, allows said device to;

set up at least one connection to at least one transmitting device based upon said evaluation parameters of said decision routine.

46. The device according to claim 45, said decision routine using said network information.

47. The device according to claim 35, wherein said receiving routine, request routine, request handling routine or transmission routine can be switched off selectively.

48. The device according to claim 35, wherein said transmission routine is adapted for transmitting said software.

49. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software is further provided with a test routine for testing connections with other devices in said data network.

50. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software comprises a conversion routine for either converting or transforming said data packages.

51. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software is provided with an evaluation routine for evaluating the quality of said data connections.

52. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software is further provided with an inventory routine for making an inventory of at least a number of said other devices in said data network.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein said inventory routine further tries out the connection to another device in said data network for transmitting and/or receiving.

54. The device according to claim 52, wherein said inventory routine further tries out the connection to another device in said data network for transmitting and/or receiving when the existing one or more connections are broken off or come below a threshold value.

55. The device according to claim 35, furthermore provided with a memory for storing a data network address of at least one other device in said data network.

56. The device according to claim 35, furthermore provided with an environment evaluation routine for asking for addresses of devices that are connected to devices selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

57. The device according to claim 35, furthermore comprising a search routine for searching addresses of devices that are connected to devices selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

58. The device according to claim 35, wherein said software further causes said device to test the quality of a connection to another device that is connected to a device selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices, and subject to satisfactory performance of this connection add a data connection to this device.

59. The device according to claim 58, wherein said software further causes said device to repeat testing until either the quality of said connection or the number of data connections of said device or both comply with a predetermined criterion.

60. The device according to claim 35, wherein encryption ensures the confidential nature in said network.

61. The device according to claim 35, wherein said transmission routine is adapted for transmitting said network information.

114. A file transfer protocol for transferring files using the device according to claim 35.

62. A method for either generating or maintaining an organic data network for transmitting streaming data to nodes in said data network, said streaming data being split up in data packages and said nodes are provided with a data processing unit and software having:

a receiving routine for receiving data packages from at least one transmitting node in said data network,

a transmission routine for transmitting data packages, received from the at least one transmitting node, to at least one receiving node that is connected to said data network,

wherein said software, when running on said node, causes said node to perform the steps of;

in said network, sending a request for data packages of said streaming data to at least one other node;

in reply to said request, receiving at least part of said data packages of said streaming data from said at least one other node which then becomes at least one transmitting node;

receiving at least one request for data packages of said streaming data from at least one further node, and

in reply to said request, transmitting at least part of its data packages of said streaming data to said at least one further node, which then becomes at least one receiving node,

said data packages being sent independent of the at least one transmitting node.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software causes said node to initiate at least one further data connection to at least one other further node based upon network information from a device connected to said network.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein said at least one other further node in said network is provided with said software.

65. The method according to claim 63, wherein said at least one other further node in said network provided with said software is selected from the group consisting of transmitting nodes and receiving nodes.

66. The method according to claim 62, wherein the software further causes said node to ask for addresses of other nodes that are connected to nodes selected from the group consisting of transmitting and receiving nodes.

67. The method according to claim 62, wherein the software further causes said node to perform the steps of:

when the quality of a connection with the transmitting node deteriorates or appears to be insufficient, ask for addresses of other nodes that are connected to nodes selected from the group consisting of transmitting and receiving nodes.

68. The method according to claim 62, wherein the software further causes said node to test the quality of the connection to one or more other nodes

69. The method according to claim 62, wherein the software further causes said node to test the quality of a connection to another node that is connected to a node selected from the group consisting of transmitting and receiving nodes, and subject to satisfactory performance of this connection effect a data connection to this node.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein the software further causes said node to repeat testing until either the quality of said connection or the number of data connections of said node or both comply with a predetermined criterion.

71. The method according to claim 62, wherein the software further causes said node to perform the step of breaking off a connection to a node when the quality is lower than a predetermined criterion.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein said predetermined criterion is based upon network information.

73. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software further comprises a search routine for searching other transmitting and/or receiving nodes.

74. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software further causes said transmission routine to transmit said network information.

75. The method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of storing a plurality of data packages of said data in a memory on said node and making said data ready for processing or playing.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein said making ready for processing or playing can be switched off selectively.

77. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software further has a routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, which software, when running on said node, performs the step of adapting said data packages or add further data to said data packages.

78. The method according to claim 77, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding subtitling, advertising or local news in said streaming data.

79. The method according to claim 77, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding authenticity and/or other securities.

80. The method according to claim 77, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, can be switched off selectively.

81. The method according to claim 62, wherein said request handling routine is adapted for granting permission to the transmitting routine for transmitting data packages to new receiving nodes.

82. The method according to claim 62, wherein said receiving routine, request routine, request handling routine or transmission routine can be switched off selectively.

83. The method according to claim 62, wherein encryption ensures the confidential nature in said network.

84. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software is used in a mobile communication systems and satellite communication for either generating or maintaining an organic data network having an dynamic topology.

85. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software is used for implementing a media player.

86. The method according to claim 62, wherein said software is used in a traffic information system for either generating or maintaining an organic data network having a dynamic topology.

115. A file transfer protocol for transferring files according to the method of claim 62.

87. At least one tangible medium comprising computer code having:

a receiving routine for receiving data packages from at least one transmitting device in said data network;

a request routine for sending a request for data packages to at least one transmitting device;

a request handling routine for handling a request for data packages from at least one receiving device;

a transmission routine for transmitting at least one of said requested data packages, received from said transmitting device or devices in said data network, to at least one receiving device in response to said request,

wherein said computer code, when running on a device comprising a data processing unit and at least one data connection to an organic data network, allows said device to either generate or maintain an organic data network having a dynamic topology, wherein said computer code, when executed by said data processing unit, allows said data processing unit to perform the following steps;

transmit at least one request for streaming data to at least one other device;

receive at least one data package of said streaming data transmitted by said at least one other device in reply to said request, said other device thus becoming a transmitting device;

receive at least one request from at least one further device for said streaming data, and

in reply to said request, transmit at least one of its data packages of said streaming data to said at least one further device, said further device thus becoming a receiving device;

initiate at least one further data connection to at least one other further device based upon network information from a device connected to said network;

transmit said streaming data composed of data packages independent of at least one transmitting device.

88. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code, when running on said device, allows said device to initiate at least one further data connection to at least one other further device based upon network information from at least one device in said network provided with said computer code.

89. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said at least one other further device in said network provided with said computer code is selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

90. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, further comprising computer code for storing a plurality of data packages in a memory and computer code for making said streaming data ready for processing or playing.

91. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 90, wherein said computer code for making streaming data ready for processing or playing can be disabled selectively.

92. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code further has a routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages.

93. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 92, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding subtitling, advertising or local news in said streaming data.

94. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 92, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, is adapted for adding authenticity securities and/or other securities.

95. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 92, wherein said routine for adapting the data packages, or add further data to said data packages, can be switched off selectively.

96. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said request handling routine is adapted for granting permission to the transmitting routine for transmitting data packages to new receiving devices.

97. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code further has:

a decision routine for deciding to set up connections to at least one transmitting device and closing down connections to at least one transmitting device based upon evaluation parameters,

wherein said computer code, when running on said device, allows said device to;

set up at least one connection to at least one transmitting device based upon said evaluation parameters of said decision routine.

98. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 97, said decision routine using said network information.

99. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said receiving routine, request routine, request handling routine and transmission routine can be switched off selectively.

100. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said transmission routine is adapted for transmitting said computer code.

101. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code is further provided with a test routine for testing connections with other devices in said data network.

102. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code comprises a conversion routine for either converting or transforming said data packages.

103. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code is provided with an evaluation routine for evaluating the quality of said data connections.

104. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code is further provided with an inventory routine for making an inventory of at least a number of said other devices in said data network.

105. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 104, wherein said inventory routine further tries out the connection to another device in said data network for transmitting and/or receiving.

106. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 104, wherein said inventory routine further tries out the connection to another device in said data network for transmitting and/or receiving when the existing connections are broken off or come below a threshold value.

107. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code is furthermore provided with an environment evaluation routine for asking for addresses of devices that are connected to devices selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

108. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code is furthermore provided with a searching routine for searching addresses of devices that are connected to devices selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices.

109. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code further causes said device to test the quality of a connection to another device that is connected to a device selected from the group consisting of transmitting devices and receiving devices, and subject to satisfactory performance of this connection add a data connection to this device.

110. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 109, wherein said computer code further causes said device to repeat testing until either the quality of said connection or the number of data connections of said device or both comply with a predetermined criterion.

111. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein said computer code further causes said device to perform the step of breaking off a connection to a device when the quality is lower than a predetermined criterion.

112. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 111, wherein said predetermined criterion is based upon network information.

113. The at least one tangible medium according to claim 87, wherein encryption ensures the confidential nature in said network.

116. A file transfer protocol for transferring files using the program code of said at least one tangible medium according to claim 87.